OUR PEOPLE

Neil Pike – Chief Winemaker/Director

Neil grew up amongst his father, Edgar’s vineyards in Langhorne Creek and Padthaway . After doing a vintage in 1978 atWynns Coonawarra he decided to study wine production and marketing atRoseworthy College. After he graduated in 1981, Neil worked as a winemaker making wine for several Clare Valley wineries before starting Pikes with brother Andrew in 1984. He has now completed 38 vintages in the Clare Valley.

Andrew Pike – Viticulturist/Director

Andrew was introduced to the wine industry through his father Edgar’s vineyards in Langhorne Creek and Padthaway. Andrew attended Roseworthy Agricultural College, graduating in 1976 with a Diploma in Agriculture, and immediately joined Wynns Coonawarra Estate. After almost 4 years at Coonawarra, he joined Penfolds Wines in 1979 where he established a new vineyard project in the Clare Valley. The ‘seeds’ for Pikes Wines were immediately sown, as he quickly realised Clare’s potential. Andrew become General Manger Vineyard Operations for the Southcorp Wine Group where he was responsible for over 6000 ha of corporate vineyard and all grape supply on a global basis. During this time he was also involved in the establishment of Pikes Wines in the Polish Hill River Valley sub region of Clare. In 1998 Andrew resigned his position at Southcorp to assist his brother Neil in the running of the Pikes family business.

Steve Baraglia – Senior Winemaker

Born and raised in the Barossa Valley, Steve was always going to be involved in the wine industry. From an early age Steve was with working in the family’s small vineyard at Williamstown, which ultimately lead to a career in the wine industry. After finishing an Oenology degree and a Viticultural diploma at the University of Adelaide he took up a position at Pikes in 2003 where he is currently the Senior Winemaker. He is passionate about making wine and loves working with Riesling, a variety well suited to the Clare Valley. His approach to make Riesling is careful management in the vineyard to create a balanced canopy then minimal winemaking intervention, trying to capture the specific vineyard site. In late 2005 Steve and Wife Laura purchased as small vineyard at Sevenhill which is planted to Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet. They live on the property with their three children Mason, Buddy and Evie

Pete Bentley – Global Sales Manager

Pete joined Pikes in June 2007, after stints with Angoves, Yalumba and Taltarni. Pete’s been working in the wine industry for 28 years, and the global sector since 2002. Pete’s main role is managing our domestic and international distributors.

Jamie Pike – Sales & Marketing Manager

Introduced early to the family business, Jamie spent his childhood weekends and holiday years working in the family business, from planting, pruning, and harvesting fruit in the vineyards; crushing grapes, filling barrels and assessing wine in the cellar during vintage, to greeting guests and introducing them to Pikes Wines in the Cellar Door.

Since then he has completed his Bachelor of Wine Marketing at Adelaide University, and gained over a decade of experience in the industry across retail, hospitality, distribution, sales and management. Working with esteemed wine companies like Bollinger, Henschke, St Hallett and Petaluma during a 6 year stint at wine distributor Fine Wine Partners. Then 2 years working with New Zealand’s most awarded winery, the family owned Villa Maria as Brand Ambassador for NSW and ACT.

Jamie returned to the family business in early 2016 as Sales and Marketing Manager assist with marketing and selling the Pike brand around the world.

Pud Smith – Cellar Door Manager

Damian or “Pud”, as he prefers to be called, is a Clare local – born and bred and has worked at various local Clare restaurants, pubs and wineries over the years and even dabbled in winemaking. Pud is in charge of the day to day running of our cellar door, the direct contact to our club members/mailing list customers and sends you our seasonal newsletter.